Additional Needs

Stop the Guilt! Asking for What Your Child Needs

Posted by Jodi Shenal on 13th March 2019 Additional Needs, Disabilities

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This morning I made a call to our Pediatrician’s office…

Making yet another request for a letter of medical necessity for something my child needs.

I’m sure they grow tired of hearing my voice; I feel like they’re thinking, “There she is AGAIN.”

Every time I dial our Pediatrician or one of our numerous medical specialists and leave a voicemail, I wonder if they feel as if I’m asking for too much.

In the past year alone, I’ve hit them up for prescriptions for a wheelchair repair, Pediasure supplemental formula (needed for weight gain) and a pulse oximeter machine.

I’ve left numerous voice mail pleas seeking medical documentation needed to obtain new orthotics and incontinence supplies for my eight-year-old daughter.

I’ve just been sent a summons to appear for Jury Duty.

I am my daughter’s primary caregiver; who will pick her up from school each day if I’m selected to serve?  Guess what?

I have to call the doctor for a medical excuse for that as well.

We have to fight and plead, in many cases, for the things our child with special needs requires.

With every phone call I make, I picture the person listening to my message being burdened by “something else” that we need.

I’m sure they are busy and I am creating a considerable amount of additional work for them.  I always feel a little twinge of guilt in requiring MORE.

Situations are rarely resolved with one call; it normally takes several to clarify the urgency.

Then, there is also the aspect of every vital essential having to be approved by our insurance company.

I’m often left hoping and praying they will cover the cost of the fundamental item we are politely demanding.

They see an abundance of claims from us and none of our requests are cheap.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.  There are also plentiful things I implore of my daughter’s school on a regular basis.  That is another blog post entirely…

Today, it suddenly hit me as I’m seeking assistance in completing a form for a handicapped parking permit...

I have NOTHING to feel guilty about.

Other parents, ones of typically developing children, don’t NEED as much as we do.  My daughter didn’t ask to have multiple disabilities.

It’s not her fault that she requires extra support with every aspect of daily living.

It’s my JOB as her Mom and advocate/to fight for her and to ensure that she has everything in place to guarantee the very best quality of life.

I will continue to be “That Mom” for her, diligently going to battle time and time again.

I will not stop asking for all that my child needs.  I’ll never cease in being that voice on the line making yet another request.

Parents of children with special needs have to persevere, without guilt.  That’s what our precious ones we’re fighting for deserve.